Bising weakens; agri damage hits P218 million

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Bising weakened into a severe tropical storm as it continued to move northeast, away from Philippine landmass yesterday, the state weather bureau said.

Bising is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility tonight or early tomorrow.

Although it did not make landfall, the weather disturbance left four people dead and damage to agriculture amounting to P218 million in Bicol and Eastern Visayas.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said damage to infrastructure was placed at P10.5 million, also in Bicol and Eastern Visayas.

A total of 44,959 families or 170,500 persons were affected in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

Ninety-four houses were destroyed and 1,374 others were damaged by the typhoon.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Bising was spotted 825 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

It is forecast to move northeast at 15 kph.

Bising is likely to weaken into a storm before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone or a low-pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA said Bising would bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.7 meters ) over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

Bising is the second tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.